The second-annual charity fundraiser, “Idol Gives Back,” dominated the Wednesday overnight ratings. No word yet on how much was donated; last year’s telethon raised $76 million.

This year’s “Idol Gives Back” is raising funds to benefit six charities (the Children’s Defense Fund, The Global Fund, Make It Right, Malaria No More, Save The Children and the Children’s Health Fund). Fox scored more than a 4-rating point advantage over second-place CBS. NBC was third, followed by ABC and the CW.

Joanne Ostrow has been watching TV since before "reality" required quotation marks. "Hill Street Blues" was life-changing. If Dickens, Twain or Agatha Christie were alive today, they'd be writing for television. And proud of it.